Pennsylvania’s notoriously high level of regulation is a burden on our state economy. To make the Keystone State a competitive place to live, work, or grow a business, reforms are needed to rein in the regulatory process. Taxpayers deserve a streamlined regulatory process that scrutinizes proposed regulations to ensure frivolous reforms do not overburden the state economy and do not prevent job-seekers from accessing employment.

Regulation

Cities start adding up retiree benefit costs

  • March 13, 2006

An article from the Pittsburgh Business Times on the coming government retiree benefits crisis. Governments at all levels are only beginning to understand how big of a financial crisis…

Media

Read More: Cities start adding up retiree benefit costs

Regulation

When Social Security looks fiscally responsible

  • March 13, 2006

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Editorial on the coming pension crisis. What continues to amaze us is the feedback from un-informed and mis-informed union members who are saying that we (the Commonwealth…

Media

Read More: When Social Security looks fiscally responsible

Regulation

The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in Pennsylvania

  • March 13, 2006

It’s a shame that King Canute never ran for office in Pennsylvania. King Canute was the mighty English ruler who, tired of the ceaseless flattery of his advisors, had them…

Commentary

Read More: The Laws of Economics are Sovereign, Even in Pennsylvania

Regulation

Repealed, but not removed

  • March 12, 2006

WGAL’s Ben Simoneau highlights how the “unvouchered expense” payments will impact taxpayers for years via pension increases for lawmakers. What Simoneau didn’t cover (not that I expected him…

Media

Read More: Repealed, but not removed

Public Union Democracy

Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

  • March 7, 2006

The Hempfield Area School District is expecting nearly 90 employees (mostly teachers) to retire this year, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. This is a district where the average salary…

Media

Read More: Gettin’ out while the gettin’s good

Regulation

Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial Disasters

  • Richard Dreyfuss
  • March 7, 2006

The “Process Improvement Theory” relates to the timing in a process when errors are diagnosed and fixed. As the theory goes, at each ensuing interval in which a problem is…

Commentary

Read More: Pennsylvania Pensions: Man-Made Financial Disasters

Regulation

State employees’ pensions might carry big price tag

  • March 6, 2006

“Might”? Whoever wrote the headline for this Patriot-News story on the looming pension crisis should have read the story. Even the plan administrators at PSERS and SERS don’t see…

Media

Read More: State employees’ pensions might carry big price tag

Regulation

Pay no attention to the coming crisis.

  • Nathan Benefield
  • March 1, 2006

In an Alfred E Neuman-esque “What, me worry?” Council 13 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees claims there is no future pension problem in Pennsylvania. “…

Media

Read More: Pay no attention to the coming crisis.

Regulation

EDITORIAL | Pension padding

  • February 28, 2006

“Getting elected to the state’s freewheeling Legislature isn’t nearly as sweet as leaving the public body after several terms.” Read more from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Media

Read More: EDITORIAL | Pension padding

Regulation

The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand Government

  • February 28, 2006

Brendan Miniter in today’s Wall Street Journal… “Let’s first understand that the drive to enact anti-Wal-Mart legislation has very little to do with the retail giant except in two…

Media

Read More: The Real War on Wal-Mart is to Expand Government

Regulation

The Pay Raise and Pension Link

  • February 24, 2006

Herald Standard story by Alison Hawkes on how “unvouchered expenses” are going to boost pensions for those lawmakers who took the unconstitutional money.

Media

Read More: The Pay Raise and Pension Link

Regulation

Pension sticker shock about to hit

  • February 24, 2006

This Morning Call article by Christina Gostomski begins by looking at how PA’s archaic pension system is going to impact our property taxes.

Media

Read More: Pension sticker shock about to hit

Regulation

Retire the current retirement system

  • February 20, 2006

This Daily Item editorial gets it almost exactly right. While the conclusions are accurate that it will be the taxpayers who take it on the chin, the blame is…

Media

Read More: Retire the current retirement system

Regulation

Officials differ on slots’ economic impact

  • February 19, 2006

Gambling in PA: Economic Development or Political Handout? Although that is not the gist of this Herald Standard story, it is the point I try to make at the…

Media

Read More: Officials differ on slots’ economic impact

Regulation

The War goes on with no end in sight

  • Nathan Benefield
  • February 14, 2006

The war on Wal-Mart, that is. Now Wal-Mart is under orders from Massachusetts to sell “morning-after” pills. It seems that in not stocking the notorious morning-after pill, Wal-Mart was…

Media

Read More: The War goes on with no end in sight